OK, some are asking why I am so negative
towards Alyeska and use this “BLOG” as a sounding board? I was featured in the “Insider”
along with Lynn McArthur back in 1983, the good ol’ days, that’s why! And both
of us got screwed over by “Corporate” for caring about our jobs. This was the
time “Corporate” was “spying” on the Valdez pride and joy workers. Hey pump station
people, your pipeline was “dead-in-the-water” without us in Valdez. So here we
were, working in dedication and making break through accomplishments to keep
the 800-mile beast up and running, we kept lifting the bar in achievement
higher and higher for our own self-worth as we enjoyed the challenge. When all
the time, the “bastards” were “spying” on us and for that reason our efforts
were wasted. And during my career with Uncle Al, I spent many hours in David
Pritchard’s office and many hours in Theo Polasek’s office and many, many hours
in Larry Wood’s office as the “invitee” not to forget time wasted with BPO Ted
and his crybaby melodrama that gives “Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche” a facelift! As
part of the “Executive Management” branch, they were trying to get a hold on
what was causing a dereliction upon that “Trust” bond between management and
the workforce. It had nothing to do with the “workers”, it was a one-sided like
cyclops that which they could not understand, because they were part of it! They
were looking themselves in the “mirror”, nothing wrong so “shoot the messenger”
found reason to fulfill a “monster mindset”. And “spying”, please read your
U.S. Constitution and the Alaska Constitution what it means to infringe upon
that “Right to Privacy”! If I had to pick a book that best describes the Alyeska
5th Floor Bragaw “Management Mindset”, well since the Filth Floor
Bragaw better suits their “shoot the messenger” mandate, verdict finds that
there are two all-important writings of record that best describes the reason
Joe Hazelwoods crash tankers on rocks. Take your pick.
But make no doubt about it,
my testament boasts still that when engaged as a worker with Alyeska along that
800-miles of wilderness and stomping through way too much snow in Valdez to get
to a “valve”, it was with the “Better then the Best” the friends and acquaintances
made along the way. We were a family, yet the few “bad apples” of Bragaw ruined
it, take my word I am testament to that ritual in ridicule. I spoke up, and
paid the fine, so what as that is how I practice my American Patriotism. And as
Junior Leslie spoke out after finishing the last “mainline” weld right before
it was “Oil In” in the treacherous Thompson Pass, “I did it for the Union”, well
so did I. Had the few “bad apples” of Bragaw listened to what the Valdez
technicians were worried about, with the likes of the Joe Hazelwoods returning
from shore leave back to the “Alyeska Marine Terminal” a little wobbly and
confronting the workers like their shat didn’t stink because of their “Owner
Company” privilege, the EXXON Valdez would have never made history as a “wreck”
and maybe instead history in the making the Coast Guard arresting the pirates.
But instead, it was time to “SPY” on the dedicated workers! The real sad fact
of this matter, there are those now deceased that were made aware of this
problem and did nothing when they had the chance, yet sent to their graves
never once making an effort to come clean and honest. That is forever gone. But
there remains a handful of those that were also in the know, that did nothing.
More then likely they visit the “Alyeska Pipeline People” site, and I hope they
have the courage to read this “BLOG”, as it is the truth the whole truth so
help me God! IMAGINE, instead of wasting resources stopping me in my tracks “My
Vocal Union” advise, that they wagered their efforts to STOP Captain Joe and may
the “Bastards of Bragaw” enjoy that golden handshake retirement all this time
the wreck lingers on. ~ Mike Kelley